Hand lamp



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,568

F. L. HUMESTON HANDLAMP Filed Oct, 29, 1926 INVENTOR 7% am ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

UNlT EDST-ATES FREDERICK L. numasron, or NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO wmcHEs-- PATENT OFFICE.

TER REPEATING- ARMS .COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

HAND LAMP.

Application filed october 29, 1926. Serial No. 144,927.

My invention relates to battery hand lamps of the type including a casing for the battery, a lamp bulb, switch .mechanismfor completing the electric circuit through the bulb, and a bottom end cap for closing the bottom end of the casing and holding the battery in proper positionwitlnn the casmg.

moved. i I I v It has been proposed heretotore to provide means for carrying one or more spare lamp bulbswithina battery hand lamp,so that", whenever the bulb which is connected in circuit with the battery becomes broken or burned 0ut, it is merely necessary to remove tl1e useless bulband ainsertone otthe spare lamp bulbs in its. place, thus rendering the lamp it for use again. i

According to my invention, a spare lamp bulb can be carried within the bottom end cap, and thiswithout impairing the operation ofany parts which are normally enclosed within'this end cap. It is "common practice to provide a spring member within the bottom end cap adapted to press against the bottom of the battery sons to hold the battery firmly against a contact member ar- Y ranged to engage the central electrode of the battery at the forward end of the casing.

I have found that, it is possible to mount a spare lamp bulb Within the bottoni'eml cap without interfering with the action of the springmember against the bottom of the battery, and in fact, my invention contemplates the mounting of the spare lamp bulb on the spring member insuch a manner that the spring acts as a buffer between the lamp bulb and the end cap. The lamp bulb is preferably supported out of contact with any portion of the end cap. The spare lamp bulb is thus fully protected against breakage at all times, even though the hand lamp may be dropped or otherwise roughly handled. i

The mounting of the sparelamp bulb on i the spring member within the bottom end cap has the distinct advantage of clearly exposing the spare lamp bulb to view when ever the end capis removed for any reason,

suitable manner,

such as the replacement of the battery. The parts can be constructed and arranged in sucha mannerthat when the end cap removed, the lamp bulb is carried forward by the spring member until it extends beyond "the open end of the cap. In this mannerythe owner of the hand lamp is periodically reminded of the fact that he has a spare lamp bulb ready for use in any emergencyu The various objects and advantages of my invention, some of which have been mentioned above, will be more apparentupon considering the'following detailed descrip tion, which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which. I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a portion of 'abattery hand lamp illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view of a portion of a battery hand lamp illustrating the same embodiment of the invention as applied to a hand lamp having a battery casing of insulating material;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section view of a bottom end cap providedwith my improved bulb support; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line4-4 of Fig. 3, showing a construction of the bulb support.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFig. 1, the battery casing l is of metal, and contains a battery 2 of dry cells arranged end to end in series connection. in accordance with standard practice. A bottom end cap 3 closes the bottom end of the casing 1, thereby enclosing and concealing the bottom end of the battery 2. The end 7 cap 3 carries a spring member 4 which is preferably, though not necessarily, of the coil type shown in thedrawings A spare bulb support 5 is yieldingly supported within the endcap 3, preferably bylthe spring member 4. The bulb support maybe of any desired form, but I prefer to make this support out of a single piece of metal which single piece of metal having a base portion 7 having a central aperture adapted to receive the rivet 6. The bulb support is also provided with two side members 8 and 9, from which a pair of oppositely arranged tangs 10 and 11 may be struck inwardly so a-s'to form flexible arms adapted to engage thethrea'ded base 12 of the lamp bulb. The

support can also be provided with a bent up end member 13, adapted to engage the bulb and prevent accidental longitudinal displacement of the bulb. The member 13 is arranged atone endof the bulb support and the other end of the support-is preferably left open so as to provide amplespace for taking hold of the threaded end of the bulb to remove the same from the support.

In fact, it is desirable to cut away a portion of the base 5 of the bulb support, as indicated at 14 inFig. 3, so as; to make the lamp bulb even more accessible. v

The side portions 8 and 9.0t the bulb support are preferably, provided with curved surfaces, such as that indicated at 15, extending out. beyond the lamp bulband adapted to engage the bottom of thefbattery tube. These side portions thus serve to space thelampbulb apart from the bottom of the battery, and the Cr mea-a t the side portions permits the bulb support to assume an easy position 1 against the battery.

the spare bulb forward. so that it is clearly eXposed-toview, as. illustrated ing Fig. 45... In this w.ay,. the owner of thaliand lamp is periodically reminded ,of thefact that he has a spare lamp bulb available for .use whenever the ,bulb' connected in: the battery circuit burns out. This is a distinct advantage, because many of the spare lamp .bulb supports heretofore; employed have been constructed and. arranged within the casing in such a manner. that the owner of the lamp seldom has occasion tomotice the spare lamp bulb andmay forget that he has one available, for an emergency.

. .The embodimentoflthe inveiition illustrated in Fig 2 exactly the sameas that illustrated in the other figures of thefclrawing. Fig. 2 merely illustrates the application'of the invention ton handlamp having abattery casing consisting otmsulating materiahas distinguished from the metal casing 1, shown in Fig. 1. The insulating casing 1 of Fig. 2 is provided-with a screwthreaded metal ring 16 adapted. toreceive the end cap 3, the end cap being of the same construction as that shown in Fig. 1. Where an insulating battery casing is employed; it is necessary ,to provide. some means for establishing a connection between the jswitch mechanism (not shown) and the bottom electrode of the battery. In Fig. 2, this is accomplished by providing a metal conducting strip 17 which makes electrical contact with the ring 16 The connection is completed to the bottom electrode of the battery through the endcap 3, the spring member 4 and the spare bulb support 5 I It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular embodiment illustrated and described, but includes'such modifications thereof as tall v. i.thin the scope of the appendedclaims. For example, the details of the spare bulb support maybe changed. without sacrificing all of the advantages of my invention, and the iltln e ls true of the manner in which the spare bulb support is mounted withinthe bottom end. cap.

I claim: V H

1. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, an end cap forthe' casing, a spring member i vithin saidend cap, and a spare bulb support having a base portion fixed to said; spring member and two side portions adapted to engage the battery and to space the 'spare bulb apart from the battery, the ,said' s'ideportions having curved portions for engaging the battery. I y

y 2. In a hand lamp, the c'ombination of a casing, a battery therein, an jend cap for the casing, a spring memberwithin said end cap, and a spare bulb support fixed tosaid .spring member and having integral side portions provided with means integral therewith for gripping the base of the spare bulb.

8. In a hand lamp, the combination off a casing, a battery therein, an end "for the casing, a spring member end cap, and a spare bulbsupport having a base portion fixed to said spring member an'd side portions adapted to engage the battery "and having means integraltherewith for gripping the base of a sparebulb, and the said support having an end portion for preventing accidental longitudinal displacement of the bulb. p I

v 4. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery, therein, an end cap for the casing, a spring member'within said end cap, and a spare bulb support having a base portion fixed to said spring member andside portions adapted to engage the batteryan d having means integral therewith for "gripping the base of aspare bulb, andthje said support having an end portion for preventing accidental longitudinal displacement of cap, a spare bulb support comprising a base portion fixed to said spring and a wall portion integral with said base portion and adapted to engage the battery, and means on said base portion for gripping the base of a spare bulb, said wall portion having an' opening therein through which the end of the spare bulb protrudes.

6. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, an end cap for the casing, a spiral coiled spring havin the large end thereof fixed within said en cap, a spare bulb support comprising a base portion fixed to the small free end of said spring and a wall portion integral with and extending upwardly from said base portion,

the upper edgesof said wall portion being adapted to engage the battery, and means on said base portion within sald wall portion for gripping the base of a spare bulb, said wall portion having an opening therein through which the end of the sparebulb protrudes.

7. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, an end cap for the casing, a springhaving one end thereof fixed. within said end cap, a spare bulb support comprising a base portion fixed to the free end of said spring and a wall portion extending away from said base portion and adapted to engage the battery, and means on said base portion within said wall portion for gripping the base of a spare bulb, where by both said bulb, and said entire bulb support are located above the upper free end of said spring;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK L. HUMESTON. 

